Dream Act is just a dream?

President Obama's Promises in 2008 

" This time must be different ...We have never been just a collection of individuals ... We are and always will be the United States of America ... But we have so much to do...This is our moment. This is our time to put people back to work and open doors of opportunities for our kids, to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace, to reclaim the American Dream, and reaffirm the fundamental truth that out of many we are one."

Time flies! I cannot believe that it has been already three years since President Obama gave this inspiring speech to his supporters in Grant Park, Chicago. And, this year he needs to show that he is really working on his promises to all peoples in this country, if he wants to win reelection this November. Dream Act, I think, is one of important topics for the upcoming election.

                                        

Q. What is Dream Act?

I heard this word in my social work class, and it was embarrassing(as a social work student) but had no idea about it. So, I decided to look up the bill on the Internet.

Dream Act, or Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2011(H.R1842), is aim to provide conditional legal status to (former and future) undocumented high-school graduates and GED recipients a pathway to U.S. citizenship through college or the armed services.

(Approximately 6.5 million unauthorized immigrants graduate from high schools each year.)

You can check more details about the bill at Immigration Policy Center of American Immigration Council.

Q. Who is qualified?

An alien who:

(1) entered the United States on or before his/her 15th birthday and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding this Act's enactment,

(2) is a person of good moral character,

(3) is not inadmissible under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act,

(4) has been admitted to an institution of higher education (IHE) in the United States or has earned a high school diploma or general education development certificate in the United States, and

(5) was age 32 or younger on the date of this Act enactment.

*"Applicants must submit biometric and biographic data; undergo security and law enforcement background checks; undergo a medical exam; and register for military selective service. These students would be able to obtain permanent resident status after two years of college or military service."

There are so much to talk and do some research about this bill, so I will post related blogs in a little while!

Phuong